Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-01

Experiments to be Made With Snakes
At the National Museum.

RATrLEsNAKEs AND THEIR BITE
Experiments to be Made With Snakes
| NJ the National Museum.
THREE HoNEsfcK RATTLEsSAxEs FROM THE BLU
| RrDGE-A TALK WITH PROF. RHEEN-How THE RAT
| TLEsSAKE STRIKES AND THE EFFECTS OF HIS POISON
SUPPOSED ANTIDOrE.
The snake department Of the Smithsonian Is al
present located in the little building at tho west
OF the main structure. Most Of the reptiles belong
Ing 10 the National Museum collection are bottled
up so that no fear need be felt lest they might es
cape and cause panic among citizens. Iguanas
crocodiles and other strange beasts all preserving
proper decorum and themselves properly preserved
or stuned, as the case may be- obstruct the way OF
the visitor. Asfts not menager1e reptiles are not
Kept alive, exceptfn few instances when 1t is de-
sired to study from nature the habits OF some beast
Al present there are three individuals OF the species
erototas honidus in a box covered with wire and
glass. This name Is the one with which scieutists
nave labeled the banded rattlesnaKe These rat
tlesnakes came from the Blue Ridge Mountains,
tivity they refuse to eat ana eive mary evidences
OF alScontent. II any one approaches the box In
which they are confined the three snakes spring
darling out and their rattles whirring.
DIT. narrow, the curator Of this department, and
ms mysei said Prof Rheem, OF the reptile sec
% with the snakes. viii. By goP per@issioD
perimsnts with the venom OF the rattlers we have
mere. Or. Yarrow will try and definately deter
NINE II solution OF permanganate OF potash
snakes, as claimed by Prof. Mitchell. The Ger
penis VIII be held by the neck and made to eject
t td venom In saucer, which will then be In
pigeons, rabbits ana the IKE and the SYMPTOMS
carefully noted: The supposed antidote will then
stages OF toxic symphonic and the results recorded
When complete, DR.. Yarrow will, no doubt, write
paper giving the results Of the investigation.
RArTIgE's FANGs.
I'm the production Of the bite" said the pro-
fessor, as he turned over q snake with pair Of
tongs, 'the active instruments are a pair Of de-
clduouS 1angS one on each side of the upper jaw,
rooted In the maxillary bones, which bear few II
any, other teeth. The fangs vary in size, being
sometimes three-fourths OF an inch in length.
They are somewhat conical and scythe- shaped.
viii an extremely nne point; the convexity looks
forward the point downward and backward. The
OuL tne construction OF the tube Is not as II hole
nao oee1 bored through q solid tooth. 1t Is In
enecI nat tooth, with edges rolled over together
III tney meet, converting an exterior surface first
into groove finally into tube; this Is shown on
microscopic examination OF a section OF the tooth.
Unlike an ordinary tooth, the fang is movable, and
was formerly supposed to be hinged In its socket,
since II Is susceptible OF erection and depression
But the tooth Is firmly sOcketed, and the source Of
III,
rocks 10 and fro by singular continuance. The
protruslon OF the fangs Is not an automatic mo-
ton, consequent upon the mere opening Of the
inou.n, as formerly supposed, but yoiitional act
as the reverse motion, namely, the folding back Of
tne too.n. also Is, SD tlat in simply feeding the
fangS are not erected.
"When not in use, the fauCs are protected by a
eOntrlvahce Tor sheathng them, so that they rest
IKE sword In Its scabbard. This is fold OF mu-
hood, enwrapping its base, and slipping down over
It's length Erection Of the fangs causes the sheath
20 sup OIL IKE the finger OF glove, aud gather in
nuid Is secreted In gland which lies against the
side OF the skull, below and behind the eye, OF a
nattened oval shape, obtuse behind, taper1ng in
'front.' 10 Duct that runs 10 the base OF the TOOTH
HOW IT STRIKES
"The mechanism OF the act of striking may be
thus described: The snake prepares for action by
throwing itself into a number Of coils, upon the
mass OF which the neck and q few inches more lie
loosely curved, the head elevated the tail project
Ing and rapidly vibrating. AT the approach OF the
tion OF muscles upon the cOnvexity OF the curves
Strengthens out the anterior portion Of the body,
and thus darts forward the head AT this Instant
the jaws are widely separated and the back Of the
head firmly fixed upon the neck. With the OPEN
Ing OF the mouth the muscles contract, and the
as they leap forward. With delivery of the blow
and penetration Of the fangs. the lower jaw closes
ioreioiy' the muscle that executes their movement
the tubular tooth into the wound.
THE RESULTS OF BITE.
"Dr Yarrow," said the professor, estates that
symptoms produced in man by the bites OF poison
GUS Serpents possess certain degree OF similarity
their gravity depending largely upon the size OF
the reptile, and the amount of venom injected
into the wound. In case the serpent had repeat
edly used his rhngS and exhausted the supply OF
venom dangerous symptoms would be less pro-
nouDced. Briefly they may be stated as follows:
After the puncture at first the pain Is slight in
the part; this gradually increases along the line
OF the lymphatics, with nausea; bleeding takes
place and rapid tumefactiOn and discOlOratiOn
In the vicinity Of the wound. The pulse Is feeble
and nuttering, and in some cases when an over.
wheming dose OF the venom has been received.
the action OF the heart is almost paralyzed. II
remedial means are not employed there Is eXaR-
geratlOn Oh all the symptoms mentioned, delirium,
coma and death, which may occur within a few
minutes.
SNAKE POISON.
''Venoms," he said, shear in some respects
strong resemblance to the saliva of other verte-
brates the active principles of which are con-
tanned In its liquid parts only The solid consti-
Iuents, such as are observed suspended in the
poison, consists OF epithelium cells, some minute
rod-like animal organisms and microcOcci, &C.,
which. when separated from the liquid fresh
venom by means OF filtration, and well washed
by water, are harmless. Microcci are constantly
present In fresh venom, but have nothing to DO
with its v1rulence. VenOms nay be dried and pre-
served Indefinitely with but vely slight impair.
ment OF their toxicity. In solution in glycer1ne
they Will probably keep for any length OF time.
When venom is taken into the stomach In the in
tervals Of digestion, enough OF the poison may be
absorbed to produce death, but during active d.
gestion the venom undergoes alteration and is
rendered harmless. Perrnanganate OF potassa,
chloride OF iron, in the form OF the liquor tine
ture and tincture Of iodine seems to be the
most active and promising Of the generally avail
able local antidOIes. The color Of venom varies
from pale amber to a deep yellow, and is of a
very watery consistency"